Upon entering the area, Allura was greatly encouraged by both the approving look that was bestowed on her and by the expression of repressed excitement her governess wore as she quickly unzipped the voluminous dark blue bag that contained the costume.

"Now, Allura- vhat do you have to say about this?" Nanny asked, arching the eyebrows that were the only thing about her that could be termed slim. Her lively, round features shone as she broke into an expectant, happy smile.

The Princess was ecstatic upon seeing what was offered for her purpose; Nanny had managed to find the perfect Santa outfit, in the form of a luxurious red velvet coat trimmed with white fur that had belonged to King Alfor. Allura smiled broadly at the thought of her father's garment being used for a depiction of a jovial Terran saint, for the notion certainly seemed in keeping with the spirit of the man who had once worn this unique article of clothing.

This particular coat had only been put on, appropriately enough, when the King had taken part in the Winter Festival processions and numerous other cold weather activities in Arusian towns, both big and small. Her father had strongly felt participating in all of the local festivals gave him a good opportunity to reach out to his people, and they had loved him for it. It also had been a rare chance for a very shy, young Princess to come out from behind the shelter of the castle walls to have some fun, as well as to learn what her heritage was all about. It had been many years since those processions had been able to be held, and Allura smiled wistfully as she began to recall the innocent, happy revelry that had been so much a part of those parades.

Keith would have enjoyed all of the festivals, she was sure of it. Maybe it was time to renew the old traditions, now that Voltron had secured their survival, so he could see something of the heritage that had shaped her upbringing, much like celebrating Christmas had shaped his. It was too late for this year, but maybe next December it could happen...deep in her ponderings, the bemused Princess never heard her companion inquire with a chuckle, "So, my Princess...vill it vork as a costume for your 'Santa Claus', do you think?"

Receiving no answer, Nanny turned to look at her lovely companion and her sharp gaze noted with sudden unease the girl's dreamy expression as she stared blankly into space, a mysterious smile hovering upon her lips. ~Now what brought that expression on, the child almost looks like she's lovelorn, perish the thought!~ Quickly zipping up the garment bag containing the coat, and holding it in one hand, she reached out and lightly took hold of her Royal charge's arm, attempting to bring the young woman out of her reverie. "Allura," she briskly inquired, "is everything all right, child? I am asking you, dear, vill this robe do for the celebration?"

The crisp voice took hold of and steered the Princess' thoughts back to her present surroundings. The platinum circlet of her high office caught and reflected the glow from the ceiling lights, as she slowly nodded her golden head. "It's perfect," she murmured.

"Good!" The governess smiled, gave her charge's arm a reassuring little squeeze, and turned to hang up the garment bag on the edge of a nearby shelf. Next, she knelt down to open the large gray storage bin that sat at her oxford- clad feet. "I also found some black boots, mittens and a black belt, and oh, yes, here is the headpiece that vent with your father's robe. As for a vig and beard, I haf asked Lady Marin in dressmaking to create something appropriate," the governess stated. She then handed Allura a stunning red and white chapeau.

The Princess smiled in delight as her long fingers caressed the fluffy white fur that covered the bottom half of the hat.

"Thank you so much, this is wonderful, Nanny! I just knew you would find something for us to use, you always come through in a pinch!"

"Nonsense, a trip to storage is hardly vorth such praise," her governess' scoffing response was belied by delighted expression as she surveyed her discoveries. "Now- you must tell me, just who is going to be vearing this outfit? Master Coran, perhaps?" The plump woman hid a smile at the thought of the sensible, unassuming Royal Advisor wearing the furry hat and lavish red coat.

The Princess shook her head, and nervously cleared her throat. This was not going to be easy.

Taking a deep breath, she made her request.

A stunned silence followed.

"You cannot be serious, Allura!" Nanny finally exclaimed, waving her hands around in an agitated manner. They came to rest on the impossibly frilly cap on her head, the stout fingers interlocking, so that her elbows made perfect arrows in either direction. She exhaled noisily. "Vhy do you ask this of me?"

"Because I know much you care about the boys, because you'd have fun and feel good about doing it, and because you wouldn't ever want to disappoint me, or them!" Allura responded slyly, while ticking off the reasons on her fingers.

Nanny's up-thrust arms helplessly dropped to the sides of the plain gray gown she wore, as she stared at her Princess, who bravely maintained a steady gaze. In an unusual breach of etiquette, the governess then turned her back, trying to escape the hopeful, pleading expression in the younger woman's eyes. "It's out of the question! It vould damage the credibility of my standing in this house to take part in such shenanigans!"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because it's crossing the line to be so familiar with them."

"But you'll be in disguise!"

Nanny turned back to confront her tormentor. "Those hooligans vould figure out it vas me, and take full advantage of the opportunity to poke fun! Playing a part such as this vould undermine my authority for good! If those men don't respect and yes, even fear me, how vill I ever keep order in this place?"

The Princess shook her head in dismay. "I disagree with the premise that showing kindness undermines one's authority, Nanny. It is much better for one's sense of worth to govern with compassion and good humor, than with force, wouldn't you agree? Haven't our struggles with Zarkon shown you that?"

The older woman snorted loudly, her shrewd brown eyes filled with skepticism. "Princess, be sensible- and I can't believe you vould use that comparison! There's no parallel between dealing vith that- that beast, and this situation at all."

Allura folded her pink-covered arms across her chest, and stared thoughtfully at her flustered governess. After a moment, she quietly replied, "All right, let me put it another way. Do you think any of Zarkon's offspring would be willing to let you refuse such a request?"

"Of course they vouldn't!" Nanny sputtered. "Vhy do you ask me such a question?"

"Because if weren't for the boys finding us, and bringing Voltron to life, you would be working for Lotor- who, by the way, would keep you on his staff just so you could watch the misery our lives would become. Can you imagine what requirements he might have for you?"

The older woman silently bit her lip. Allura had certainly taken a page from her old Nanny's book in ploys for getting her way; guilt had been and always was a highly effective tactic.

"Please, Nanny dear, I wouldn't ask this of you if I thought it could harm you or your 'standing' here, as you so quaintly put it. In fact, I believe it could only serve to greatly improve relations between you and the boys. Would it help at all if I asked you to do it as a personal favor to Her Highness, who will consider herself forever indebted to you?"

Nanny heaved a sigh and managed a final glare at the stubborn woman in the pink dress.

Allura's face was wreathed in an irresistible smile, and the azure eyes were glimmering with appeal. The governess felt her resolve slipping. ~A personal favor; the Princess has never asked me for one before...the little missy is pulling out all the stops, so it must be important to her. And as for those young men...vell, I guess it vould be nice to see all of them smile like Master Hunk and Master Pidge did when I gave them the gingerbread. I felt very good for a long time after I did that, it's true. The spirit of giving...hm. All right, I guess I can try.~

Waves of misgivings swelled and crashed over the older woman, but she ignored them. With a decisive air, she reached for the garment bag and folded it over her arm, then turned to a delighted looking Princess to give the answer that was already written in her fleshy features.

"Very well, Allura, I'll do it."

The dinner hour passed uneventfully, though everyone noticed Nanny seemed unusually quiet. No one complained or questioned it though; it was nice not having to listen to a lecture on table manners for a change. And if any her teammates noticed that Allura seemed to have an extra sparkle about her, they quickly attributed it to fun of the afternoon and lingering affects of the schnapps afterwards.

Keith, seated on the left of the Princess, found himself helplessly staring at her instead of eating the scrumptious roast beef and potato dinner placed before him. He watched intently as she ate dainty forkfuls of food, and exchanged quiet conversation with Coran, who was in his usual place on Allura's right side. In fact, Coran and Allura seemed to have so much to say to each other, she had barely said more than two sentences to him. That was okay though, it gave him a rare chance to observe her graceful gestures and appreciate her charming voice as she chatted, without having the distraction of having to come up with a reply. Silently he admired the curve of her cheek as she smiled, the glorious golden hair, and the graceful arch of her neck above the stiff shoulders of her gown.

Seeing her like this, dressed in her official 'Princess' garb, made it hard for him to believe anything had changed between them, that he had ever even teased, held and kissed her with such recklessness. He had, though, and lord, how he wanted to do it again. And again. His hand tightened on his fork before setting it down to reach for his water goblet, in order to wet his suddenly dry mouth.

Lance, who was on Coran's immediate right, watched Keith watch Allura, and a subtle gleam appeared in his blue eyes. ~I'd be willing to bet a month's salary that something passionate transpired in that lounge this afternoon; jeez, Keith looks like he's ready for his new favorite dessert, 'Princessa a la mode'.~ Other risqué euphemisms came to mind as the Red Lion pilot contemplated that particular scenario, and he started to chuckle aloud.

"What's so funny, hotshot?" Hunk asked suspiciously, as he took another helping of mashed potatoes. Setting the bowl down, he stared across the table at his grinning teammate.

"Your face," Lance replied, not missing a beat.

Pidge, sitting next to Hunk, laughed aloud. "Good one."

"Your standards have lowered considerably, little buddy, if you thought that one was good." Hunk informed his friend mildly.

"Hey, it's been so quiet tonight, what can I say?" The Green Lion pilot shrugged, while snagging another roll.

"Maybe Keith has something he'd like to discuss," Lance said slyly. "Anything exciting happen since we last saw you this afternoon?"

The Captain shot his friend a warning look before answering. "No, not really."

"Princess, how about you?" The Lieutenant turned his head toward Allura, who had finished her remarks to her Guardian, and had been listening to the exchange. "Do you have anything you'd like to share with us?"

"Uh...no," Allura said, uneasily. Now just what was this all about? Lance looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, which was a sure sign that someone on the team was in for it.

"Did Keith make sure you got back to your room all right?"

"Well, no, he..." The Princess broke off in confusion as she felt Keith lightly step on her foot under the table.

"How's the search for mistletoe coming, Lance?' The Black Lion pilot asked innocently.

"Mistletoe?" Coran asked, also deciding to divert whatever mischief the Red Lion pilot was instigating. "What is that?"

"Lance knows all about it," Keith solemnly told the older man. "He wants to get some for the Princess." He glanced smugly at the now fuming Lance, who mouthed 'you're dead meat' the minute their eyes met.

Allura choked back a giggle. How neatly the tables had been turned. Lance's face was nearly as red as the flight suit Keith now wore. Her amused gaze switching back to the dark-haired Captain, she briefly wondered if he'd be able to get the make up stain out of his beautiful sweater; the thought caused a wave of heat to wash over her body as she thought of how it had gotten there. Quickly she lowered her eyes to her plate, to hide the guilty pleasure she knew they contained.

However, as Lance began to give a cautiously clinical explanation of mistletoe for a captive audience, the Princess impulsively decided to take full advantage of the opportunity she had been denied since he had arrived in the dining room. As she bent over to take a bite off her plate, she covertly eyed the Captain's muscular chest, and then ran her shy gaze up the strong column of his throat to the mouth that had taken hers so completely. She stared at the full curve of his lips in fascination, before raising her eyes to find he was looking at her. She immediately straightened, the food in front of her all but forgotten. The chocolate brown depths of his eyes held an intent that she understood immediately, and it turned her weak with longing. When his eyes dropped to her mouth, it was so like a caress, she almost moaned. Involuntarily her hand lifted to her lips, and she immediately saw a flickering response of something quite primitive in the depths of his eyes before he carefully hid it.

"So, do you still think Lance will come though for you, Princess?" Keith asked softly, under cover of his friend's monologue. His expression was neutrally friendly, but those eyes if his...oh my, those gorgeous brown eyes would definitely be her undoing.

"Yes." She replied huskily, her serene blue eyes wide and innocent as they searched his face. "But I don't think I'll need it, do you, Keith?"

Twenty minutes later, the Voltron Force filed out of the dining area and Twenty minutes later, the Voltron Force filed out of the dining area and into an adjoining lounge, to confirm the next day's agenda. However, no sooner had the Princess sat down, than a flustered Nanny appeared to whisk her away again, beckoning to Coran to follow them as well. With an apologetic shrug, and a slight bow, the Diplomat took his leave of the rest of the team.

A strained hush fell over the room after the Arusians had departed.

"Wonder what that was all about," Hunk observed to his leader.

"Maybe Nanny thinks we've corrupted her baby enough for one day," Lance offered, giving the Captain a significant look.

Keith gave a tight smile but said nothing. He still felt a little shell shocked from Allura's comment. Had he corrupted her, or had that streak of provocative mischief always been there?

"Well, Hunk, you were the one who gave her schnapps!" Pidge said, accusingly.

"I know," the Big Man replied with regret. "I didn't think it was that much, but Nanny does disapprove of her drinking, so I suppose I am in for it," he concluded, glumly.

"Maybe she saw the bruise, too," Keith calmly suggested, with a sidelong look at his best friend.

"Oh God," Lance moaned, covering his eyes, with a leather clad arm. "Never mind Nanny, Coran will have my hide for that one!" He slumped in his chair, chin buried in the familiar blue turtleneck.

"No, he'll blame me, because I'm the Captain," his smiling friend corrected him, rather enjoying the drama. "I always take the blame."

"Are you sure that's all he'll blame you for?" Lance asked, as he straightened abruptly and stared at his Captain.

Keith shot a skeptical look at his second-in-command and was startled to see all traces of humor were missing in the handsome features. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I get the distinct feeling there's something hot and heavy going on with you and Princess."

"Mind your own business, Lieutenant!" The Captain's brows had lowered ominously.

"Princess is part of the team, if I think she's in any danger of being hurt, it is my business," Lance countered icily.

Hunk's eyes grew wide. Oh no, didn't Lance know when to leave something be? This was not good. Keith was looking very peeved.

"Lance, why don't you just lay off Keith, he really care-"

"Hunk, stay out of this!" Keith snapped, effectively silencing his would be defender, who sat back with a hurt look." So what makes a ladies man like you think she's in any sort of danger from me?" He asked his former roommate, coolly.

"Oh I don't know... maybe it's the way you look as if you want to jump on her bones every time she's near you. I've never seen you look like that with any woman before. It's scary."

"And still none of your business." Keith spat out.

Pidge recoiled from the hostility brewing between his two friends. He couldn't fathom what Lance was blathering about, or why Keith was getting so upset over one of Lance's stupid jokes, they all knew Keith liked the Princess, but it wasn't like the Skipper had ever swapped tonsils with her or anything. He hadn't seen anything at all going on with the two of them, other than Keith's obvious admiration for Allura, so what was the big deal about a little teasing, a little fun? Heck, they all had crushes on her! Why was Keith so touchy about it now?

One thing he could see, however, was that a fight of some type was brewing, and that would never do. Not now. Not at this time of year.

"Guys, guys, you do realize what tomorrow is, don't you?" The bespectacled youth interjected quietly. It was more effective than if he had shouted.

Keith forced his coiled muscles to relax. His glare softened as he turned to the youngest member of any alliance crew he had ever been associated with. "What is it, Pidge?"

"Christmas Eve."

"Oh." The Captain heaved a sigh, his anger draining away in an instant.

"Oh jeez - " Lance hissed like a balloon losing air.

"Yep," Hunk acknowledged wearily.

"Well, since it's Christmas, I'm going to ask Santa for something," Pidge continued, smiling a little.

"What's that little buddy?" Hunk smiled too, his hurt forgotten.

"I would ask Santa to help my surrogate family show one another how much they really mean to each other for a whole day without all this bullshit. By the way, that request includes Coran, Nanny and the Princess, too. Think you guys can agree to do that for Santa and me? I mean, hell, at the rate my life is going, I need all the happy moments I can engineer before it's too late." The Green Lion pilot sighed, and leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed behind his head as he patiently waited for his answer.

For a moment, the men of the Voltron Force took great interest in their boots.

Then as one, they looked up.

Lance, Hunk and Keith exchanged sheepish glances. Then they looked soberly at the boy who had experienced a lifetime of heartbreak in twelve short years- and heartily agreed to his request.

Later that night, the Princess lay in bed, too excited to sleep. ~Santa is coming tomorrow!~ She thought, with a giggle. ~I had better be good, I had better not cry! I hope everything goes all right, I think Nanny has the part down after we rehearsed. Thank goodness Coran controlled himself, he was so red, I was sure he was going to burst with laughter! Wonder if Lance will get the mistletoe, I never got the chance to ask him how it was going. Oh, and it was so rough having to stay away from Keith the rest of the night. Oh well, at least I'll get to see him all day tomorrow! Maybe he'll kiss me again!~

With that pleasant thought, Allura snuggled her golden head into her pillow, and drifted off to sleep. Bright visions of the treats she had planned for her friends waltzed through her dreams, sweetly intermixing with bunches of mistletoe and romantic kisses from her favorite Eskimo.

To be continued....:)